Freelance Project Manager Rates in 2026
Delivery-focused PMs running agile delivery, stakeholder management, and program governance. Below are the current market rates across 25 global locations, updated April 2026.
Project Manager Rates by Location
The median project manager rate in Silicon Valley, CA is $132/hr, roughly 181% higher than Bangalore, India at $47/hr. Click any city for a deeper look at that market.
| Location | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon Valley, CA | $103 | $132 | $169 |
| Zurich, Switzerland | $100 | $128 | $164 |
| New York, NY | $96 | $123 | $157 |
| Seattle, WA | $90 | $115 | $147 |
| Boston, MA | $87 | $111 | $142 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $87 | $111 | $142 |
| Tel Aviv, Israel | $87 | $111 | $142 |
| London, UK | $83 | $106 | $136 |
| Singapore | $83 | $106 | $136 |
| Austin, TX | $80 | $102 | $131 |
| Sydney, Australia | $80 | $102 | $131 |
| Dublin, Ireland | $80 | $102 | $131 |
| Chicago, IL | $76 | $98 | $125 |
| Amsterdam, Netherlands | $76 | $98 | $125 |
| Paris, France | $76 | $98 | $125 |
| Tokyo, Japan | $76 | $98 | $125 |
| Stockholm, Sweden | $76 | $98 | $125 |
| Denver, CO | $73 | $94 | $120 |
| Miami, FL | $73 | $94 | $120 |
| Toronto, Canada | $73 | $94 | $120 |
| Atlanta, GA | $69 | $89 | $114 |
| Berlin, Germany | $69 | $89 | $114 |
| Remote (US) | $66 | $85 | $109 |
| Remote (Global) | $56 | $72 | $92 |
| Bangalore, India | $37 | $47 | $60 |
Top-Paying Project Manager Specializations in 2026
These are the highest-paying areas within the skill. The benchmark on this page is the median across all of them — SalarySavvy does not model a separate premium per niche.
- 01Agile / scrum delivery
- 02Technical program management
- 03Vendor & stakeholder management
- 04PMO setup
Frequently Asked: Project Manager Rates
What is the average freelance project manager hourly rate in 2026?
The median freelance project manager rate in the US remote market is $85/hour in 2026, with a typical range of $66–$109/hour. Rates trend roughly up 3% year-over-year.
How much do project managers charge in Silicon Valley, CA?
Freelance project managers in Silicon Valley, CA command a median rate of $132/hour, typically between $103 and $169/hour. This is currently the highest-paying market for this skill.
How much can a freelance project manager earn per year?
At a median US-remote rate of $85/hr and ~1,800 billable hours per year, a freelance project manager earns roughly $153,000 annually. The range spans $119,000–$196,000 depending on specialization and experience.
What specializations command the highest project manager rates?
The top-paying specializations in 2026 are: Agile / scrum delivery, Technical program management, Vendor & stakeholder management, PMO setup. These are the highest-paying areas within the skill; the benchmark on this page is the median across all of them, not a niche premium.
Your business at $85/hr
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, SalarySavvy may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list tools that fit the situation described; partners never influence the rate data.
| Billable hours/year | Gross annual |
|---|---|
| 1,200 | $102,000 |
| 1,500 | $127,500 |
| 1,800 | $153,000 |
Most full-time freelancers bill 1,200–1,500 hours a year once sales, admin and time off are counted.
A common rule of thumb for US freelancers is to set aside 25–30% of gross for federal income and self-employment tax combined (state tax is extra); at 1,500 hours that is roughly $35,700–$38,250. This is an estimate, not tax advice.
- Tax
Keeper finds write-offs and files the 1099 return.
- Contracts and invoicing
Bonsai puts a contract in front of the client before the work starts and turns it into an invoice when it's done.
FreshBooks handles invoicing, expense tracking and accounting for freelancers.
- Business banking
Found is a business bank account built for freelancers, with expense tracking included.
Related Freelance Skills
Ready to set your project manager rate?
Get a personalized recommendation that factors in your experience level, specialization, and target location. Free and takes under two minutes.